Ranchi: In a first-of-its-kind initiative linking conservation with sustainable development, state govt has approved a three-year multidisciplinary project to scientifically document the fossil wealth, biodiversity, geology and tribal heritage of Rajmahal Hills-Ganga landscape in Santhal Pargana region.Titled Geo-Rajmahal, the project has been sanctioned by the Jharkhand Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (JCSTI) under the department of science and technology. It will be implemented over 36 months by a team led by Prof Deepak Kumar Jha of IIT(ISM), Dhanbad, in collaboration with Prof Ranjeet Kumar Singh of Sahibganj College and experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI).Singh told TOI on Tuesday, “The study seeks to create the first integrated scientific assessment of the Rajmahal-Ganga region, examining not only its geology and ecology but also its archaeological and cultural landscape. The findings are expected to help formulate conservation and development policies for one of Jharkhand’s most ecologically sensitive and geologically significant regions.”Rajmahal Hills are globally known for their rich deposits of Cretaceous-era plant fossils, dating back nearly 118 million years. “These fossils, found across Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda and Dumka districts, provide crucial evidence of ancient vegetation and climatic conditions. Despite their scientific importance, only a limited number of fossil-bearing sites have been systematically studied so far, while new discoveries continue to emerge from different parts of the hills. These need to be brought before the global audience,” said Singh, who drafted the proposal with the govt.The department has earmarked around Rs 8 lakh for the study, officials said. “We will soon begin the formal exercise,” Singh said.The project will also examine prehistoric human-environment interactions across the region, which experts believe remain inadequately researched despite the presence of tribal communities with deep historical links to the landscape.Researchers will study the relationship between the Ganga ecosystem, biodiversity and the underlying geological framework, moving beyond conventional conservation efforts focused solely on flora and fauna.Singh said, “The study could open new avenues for geo-tourism, local livelihood generation and sustainable natural resource management, while supporting Jharkhand’s efforts to align conservation and development strategies with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
